WVU Sports Hall of Fame

Inducted: 1992

Written by John Antonik

The late A.C. "Whitey" Gwynne was a pioneer in the field of athletic training and served as WVU's trainer for more than 30 years.

A native of Beaver, Pa., and a graduate of Carmichaels High, Gwynne captain the 1934 WVU wrestling team before taking over coaching duties in that sport during his senior season. He went on to coach nine WVU mat squads, posting a 26-33 career record. His 1936 team went 7-0 for West Virginia's only perfect season in wrestling.

Gwynne joined the Navy during World War II, where he worked as a trainer, and later returned to WVU as head athletic trainer following his discharge from the service.

Highly regarded in his field, Gwynne served as a trainer for two Olympic basketball teams, including the 1972 team that lost to the Soviet Union in one of the most controversial Olympic moments. He served as West Virginia's athletic trainer from 1946-75, working with the basketball program for that entire period; he gave up football training duties in 1966.

Also a trainer for teams in the Pan-American Games and the World Championships, the highly popular Gwynne retired from WVU in 1975. He served on the Board of Directors of the National Athletic Training Association in 1958, having been a charter member of the NATA in 1949.

Gwynne, who earned his master's degree at WVU in 1937, is a member of the Helms Foundation Hall of Fame. He died in 1982.